I supported a charity of my late sister's and ending up winning £10k on the Derian House Lottery
She plans to use the life-changing prize to help her talented daughter buy the cello of her dreams.
When mum Ilona Hepburn signed up to play the Derian House Lottery for £1 per week, winning was the last thing on her mind.
She simply wanted to support the charity that had meant so much to her late sister Heather Rodgers who worked as a music therapist at the hospice before she sadly died from cancer aged just 33.
Ilona was surprised with a phone call on Tuesday morning to let her know she had won £10,000 - the rollover top prize in the Derian House Lottery.
The mum-of-three plans to use the life-changing prize to help her talented daughter buy the cello of her dreams and give the family a holiday they never thought they'd be able to afford.
Ilona who is to mum to Lucy, 20, Jessie, 17, and Ben, 14, said: “I could cry, this is incredible.
“Winning this money has just been the most amazing gift. You have no idea how much this is going to help us. You never think it’s going to happen to you, do you?
“My daughter Lucy is a very talented young cellist studying at the Royal College of Music in London and we’ve been struggling to find a way to afford to get her the best cello she needs for her studies. This win will enable us to get her the cello of her dreams.”
“We’ve been doing everything we can to try and make sure that we could find a way to pay for a new instrument.
“We weren’t going to have a family holiday, but maybe now we can – which is amazing! It means so much to us, thank you so much.
The Bolton mum added: “I began supporting Derian House because of my sister, Heather, who was a music therapist at the hospice right up until she was sadly diagnosed with cancer.
“We lost her when she was only 33. It was a huge tragedy for us as a family. She treasured her time at Derian and always said how amazing all the staff were, and what a special place it was for the children and families.
“When we got the call I looked at my daughter Lucy and I said I feel like this is aunty Heather watching over us. Heather was Lucy’s godmother too, and they were very close. It just feels so beautiful, for our connection through Heather to Derian House to be the way that we help Lucy further her cello studies. I can’t tell you what this means to us.”
The Derian House Lottery costs as little as £1 a week and is a way to help the hospice raise funds to care for more than 400 babies, children and young people across the North West – helping them to make the most of every moment.
The lottery is drawn weekly, and every entry gives players the chance of winning one of 41 guaranteed cash prizes each week, with the top prize of £1,000 and a rollover top prize of £10,000.
Caroline Taylor, Deputy Chief Executive at Derian House Children’s Hospice, called Ilona with the good news on Tuesday morning.
She said: “When Ilona told us about her sister Heather and why she'd signed up to the lottery, it really moved us all.
“It was such a lovely call to make – Ilona was over the moon. Hearing how the money will help Lucy buy the cello she's always dreamed of and give the family the chance to enjoy a holiday together made it even more special. We're absolutely thrilled for the whole family and hope they make some wonderful memories with their prize.”
You can sign up to play the Derian House Lottery by visiting: https://lottery.derianhouse.co.uk/